When you go diving, you need to have a scuba tank with you in order to breathe.
But what is actually inside of those tanks?
In this post, we’ll take a look at the different gases that can be used in scuba tanks and what each one does for your dive.
The two most common gases used in scuba diving are air and nitrox. Air is the simplest gas to use, and it’s what most divers start out with. Nitrox is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, and it’s often used by experienced divers who want to stay down longer or minimize their decompression time.
Types of gases used for diving
There are other gases that can be used for diving, but they are less common.
Helium is sometimes added to air or nitrox mixtures to help reduce the risk of nitrogen narcosis.
Trimix is a mixture of helium, oxygen, and nitrogen that is used by technical divers who need to dive even deeper.
Choosing a gas for diving
When it comes to using a gas for diving you cannot simply make a choice and go for it unless you have been trained and are certified to use that gas.
The most common choice is compressed air and this is the option for most scuba divers as it meets almost all of the requirements for recreational scuba activities.
However if and when you progress or wish to progress into deeper and more advanced diving, compressed air may not meet your needs and you’ll need a different gas.
The other commonly used gas are Trimix and Nitrox.
What is Trimix?
Trimix is a gas mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen and is used for deep commercial diving as well as for advanced recreational diving.
What is Nitrox?
Nitrox is a gas mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. It is often used by experienced divers who want to stay down longer or minimize their decompression time.
Final Words
So there you have it, a quick overview of the different gases used in scuba diving.
As you can see, each gas has its own purpose and is used for different types of diving.
If you’re just starting out, air will be the choice for you.
But as you progress, you may find your needs changing and may need to train and certify for a different gas to suit your diving goals.
